Ancient Skies - Vol 21 No 4 - 1994

Magazine Overview

Title: ANCIENT SKIES
Issue: VOLUME 21, NUMBER 4
Date: SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER, 1994
Publisher: ANCIENT ASTRONAUT SOCIETY
Country: USA

This issue of ANCIENT SKIES delves into mysteries surrounding ancient civilizations and potential extraterrestrial influences, featuring articles on the "Secret Tunnels of the Incas," explorations of Greek mythology, and a reinterpretation of the Ezekiel Incident.

Secret Tunnels of the Incas

This article, written by Javier Sierra and translated by Doris L. Phillips, investigates the legendary secret tunnels of the Incas in Cuzco, Peru. The legend centers around the Coricancha Temple and the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, with a supposed tunnel connecting them. The narrative begins with the Spanish conquest in 1533, detailing how Inca-King Atahualpa, a prisoner of Pizarro, allowed Spaniards into the sacred Temple of the Sun (Coricancha) to retrieve gold and silver for his ransom. Despite the considerable amount taken, it was insufficient, leading to Atahualpa's execution. Following this, Pizarro continued looting, but the most valuable treasures, including gold statues and the solar disc, were not found, having been hidden.

The legend of a tunnel leading to this hidden treasure gained traction, with stories suggesting it began at the Coricancha and exited near Sacsayhuaman at a place called "Chinkana Grande" (Big Cave). The Chinkana Grande is described as a small hole under a colossal hewn stone. The article recounts an investigation in 1989 by Fernando Jimenez del Oso, who attempted to film the cave entrance but failed due to its narrowness and rubble from blasting by the Peruvian Armed Forces, who had closed the cave to deter treasure seekers.

Further historical accounts are presented, including a 1700 expedition where a group seeking treasure met a grim fate, with only one survivor emerging from an opening under the main altar of the Church of Santo Domingo, which stood where the Temple of Coricancha once was. This survivor brought out a solid gold ear of corn. Another story from 1814 describes Brigadier Mateo Garcia Pumakahua leading an officer blindfolded through Cuzco to a stream, then down a stone stairway to an underground area filled with astonishing riches, including silver pumas and gold "bricks."

A Jesuit Friar in 1600 is quoted describing the "Chinkana" as a deep cave made by Inca Kings, originating in Sacsayhuaman and running through the city to the Temple of Coricancha. Its purpose was to allow Inca kings and armies to move undetected between the fortress and the temple during wartime for worship.

The author, Javier Sierra, along with his friend Vicente Paris, investigated this tunnel in 1993, confirming the existence of a subterranean chamber beneath the main altar of the Church of Santo Domingo. They returned in March 1994.

Father Benigno Gamarra, Abbot of the Convent of Santo Domingo, confirmed the tunnel's existence and stated it extended much further, possibly to Quito, Ecuador. He explained that the tunnel was closed after the 1950 earthquake devastated Cuzco and forced the closure of the opening to strengthen the church's foundations. Father Gamarra also revealed a special function for the tunnel: on June 24th, the tunnel interior was illuminated by sunlight reflected from the solar disc, directed into the Chinkana (cave) and then to Sacsayhuaman via mirrors. This precision work, he noted, was significant to the Incas as astronomers and geometers.

Father Gamarra also mentioned four trapdoors in the church's lateral naves that uncovered parts of the original Coricancha walls. He noted a stream originating in Cuzco's main square that runs beneath the Church of Santo Domingo, suggesting a natural passage connecting the main square to the Coricancha. The article references Spanish chroniclers like Cieza de Leon, who described the main square as a lake drained by the Inca Sinchi Roca.

The investigation revealed an alignment of geographical points: Sacsayhuaman, the Cathedral of Cuzco, the Church of San Cristobal, and the Coricancha. This alignment, when transposed to a map, also extended to the confluence of two rivers crossing the city. The authors suggest that the builders of these religious structures were aware of this alignment. The article questions whether the Spaniards used these underground cellars to find treasure or to "Christianize" sites with inherent magical value.

The alignment is compared to the "Route of Viracocha" discovered by Maria Scholten de D'Ebneth, a straight line of nearly 1500 kilometers from Lake Titicaca to northern Peru, attributed to the mythical figure Viracocha, who is described as a champion civilizer capable of altering orography. The article questions Viracocha's advanced knowledge, suggesting a cartographic feat beyond the era's theoretical capabilities.

Felipe Mormontoy, coordinator of the Inca Movement, suggests the tunnel and its passages served as short-cuts and roads to concealed sacred sites. He mentions "hidden rock carvings" that appear to be covered with gold leaf, attributed to the "WAYO-QHARI," giants who supposedly built the massive stone works.

An additional note references Erich von Daniken's "The Gold of the Gods," which describes subterranean artificial tunnels in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador containing metal objects and a "library" of thin metal plates.

I Noticed in Ancient Skies

This section features a letter from Filip Coppens of Belgium, referencing a book by the late Mr. Mestdagh. Mestdagh attributes the Viking depredations and conquests in Western Europe to a Viking yearning to return to their ancestors' origins, possibly Atlantis. The letter's author, Gunnar Nilsson, shares his research suggesting that the origin of the Viking peoples lies not in the histories of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, but in the sagas and legends of the Nordic Gods. He proposes three divine families: the Aesirs (Aryans), the Vanirs (Semitic/Phoenicians), and the Alvirs. He notes the merging of cultures, exemplified by Niord of the Vanir marrying Frigga, who later became Odin's wife and mother of Tor and Balder. Niord's custom of spending half the year in Asgard and half in his homeland beyond the Western Sea is interpreted as a possible connection to America or Atlantis.

Nilsson suggests that the Vikings, who used perfected Phoenician ships, may have been driven by the ancient word "odal" (inheritance), leading younger sons to seek new lands. He also mentions the possibility of Viking raids being motivated by a desire to find other lands, as possibly discovered by the Phoenicians.

More on Greek Mythology

Written by Lukas Laskaris, this piece examines Greek mythology, particularly the Odyssey and the Iliad, for examples of "out of this world" powers and influencing forces. Laskaris uses puns and wordplay to interpret myths, suggesting that figures like Zeus and Athena represent intellectual concepts rather than literal beings. He analyzes the myth of Heracles (Hercules) and the Stymphalian birds, interpreting "brazen" as a pun related to beaks, noses, and wings, and the birds' actions as symbolic of war or defeat.

Laskaris also discusses the concept of "brazen" in relation to the birds' actions and their sacredness to Ares, the god of war. He suggests that the description of the birds discharging "brazen feathers" and poisonous gas that destroyed crops might be a metaphorical representation of warfare or defoliation, drawing a parallel to the Vietnam War.

The Ezekiel Incident

Authored by Benjamin Joynes, a 12-year-old from San Francisco, this section presents a theory that the biblical "Ezekiel Incident" was an encounter with an extraterrestrial craft and an ancient alien abduction. Joynes believes that governments are slowly releasing UFO information to prepare the public for eventual E.T. disclosure. He interprets Ezekiel's vision, including "huge clouds," "wheels within wheels," "brazen beaks," and "burning coals," as descriptions of UFOs, landing gear, and abduction phenomena.

Joynes posits that Ezekiel's experience of being "distraught" could be a result of "missing time," a common element in abduction accounts. He calculates the date of Ezekiel's vision as July 31, 593 BC, and a subsequent return of the "abductors" on September 17, 592 BC.

Letters and Announcements

This section includes a letter from Gunnar Nilsson responding to a previous article, a note of thanks to William M. Wood for correcting inaccuracies in a previous article about railguns, an announcement about Erich von Daniken speaking at a UFO Experience Conference, and a note marking the 21st Anniversary of the Ancient Astronaut Society. It also provides publication details for ANCIENT SKIES and information about the Ancient Astronaut Society's mission.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the intersection of ancient history, mythology, and the possibility of extraterrestrial or advanced ancient human intervention. The magazine consistently explores legends and historical accounts that suggest a connection between ancient civilizations and unexplained phenomena, such as hidden tunnels, mythical beings, and biblical events interpreted through an ancient astronaut lens. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these possibilities, encouraging readers to consider alternative explanations for historical mysteries and mythological narratives, often drawing parallels between ancient accounts and modern UFO phenomena.